{"id":195510,"date":"2026-03-17T22:13:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T22:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/195510\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T22:13:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T22:13:18","slug":"st-petes-chattaway-restaurant-will-close-this-summer-its-definitely-bittersweet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/195510\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Pete\u2019s Chattaway restaurant will close this summer: \u2018It\u2019s definitely bittersweet\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TheThe Chattaway in St. Petersburg, Florida on Aug. 5, 2016. Credit: cityofstpete\/Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n

The Chattaway<\/a>, St. Petersburg\u2019s longest-running-restaurant, will close this summer.<\/p>\n

Reached by phone at the restaurant, Greg Kitto, son of Chattaway matriarch Jillian Frers, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the closing is \u201cdefinitely bittersweet.\u201d He promised to elaborate after dinner service on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

The restaurant has operated at 358 22nd Ave. S since 1951 and is famous for its friendly service, outdoor dining, tea service, and Best of the Bay-winning burger \u201cwith an old Florida vibe.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

The spot even interjected itself into pop culture in 2019 when it became a haunt for the cast of MTV\u2019s \u201cFloribama Shore.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

In 2011 for CL, Florida\u2019s former poet laureate Peter Meinke paid homage<\/a> to the \u201cwatering hole\u201d near the family home he moved into in the late-\u201960s. His wife, Jeanne, was famous for occasionally being persuaded to do gymnastics at the Chattaway bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust thinking about the Chattaway in those days brings a smile, and then a sad shaking of the head. We had no thoughts of diets then \u2014 Chattaburgers, French fries, fried onion rings, pitchers of beer littered our tables. We smoked! We stayed up late, playing loud games of shuffleboard inside until closing time,\u201d he added. \u201cOne of Eckerd\u2019s professors, may he rest in peace, became more and more accurate the more he drank, so that after he defeated us all, we\u2019d have to drive him home.\u201d<\/p>\n

St. Pete Rising<\/a> says a yard sale will happen at some point before the closing, adding that, \u201cThe property, which has been owned by the family for decades, is now under contract and expected to transfer to a new owner in early August.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"The Chattaway in St. Petersburg, Florida on Aug. 5, 2016. Credit: cityofstpete\/Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"The Chattaway in St. Petersburg, Florida on Aug. 5, 2016. Credit: cityofstpete\/Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"The Chattaway in St. Petersburg, Florida on Aug. 5, 2016. Credit: cityofstpete\/Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"The Chattaway in St. Petersburg, Florida on May 10, 2025. Credit: Ray Roa \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

\"\"The Chattaway in St. Petersburg, Florida on Aug. 5, 2016. Credit: cityofstpete\/Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"The Chattaway in St. Petersburg, Florida on Aug. 5, 2016. Credit: cityofstpete\/Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: cityofstpete\/Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n

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This article appears in Mar. 12 \u2013 18, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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